Five OS Pleasures in your day today

Broomstick

Five things for today:

1. Giving a big sackful of miscellaneous stuff to the charity shop.

2. Having (bought) roast red pepper humous for the first time - it's lovely.

3. Sorting out bucket-loads of outgrown educational resources that we are going to get rid of.

4. Buying a really good cheap wooden crate (it worked out cheaper than getting the wood to make one) to create a very solid haybox since our slow cooker has died.

5. Finding some sprouting daffs (I think) in a flowerpot in the garden so I can repot these for the windowsill and don't need to dig up the lawn.

Sweet dreams to all

Disflop

Evening all, not been on for couple of days as been too busy, but just enjoyed catching up - I just love this thread, it always makes me smile - and sparrer your news was wonderful to hear.

A few of my pleasures from last few days then:

1.Looking after youngest gd for 36 hours - is there anything better in the world than cuddling up to a scrumtious, just bathed baby?

2. Ordering 2 books to borrow from the library - not long ago I would just have bought them without a second thought.

3. Seeing a kingfisher whilst out for a walk.

4. A friend coming round for coffee and a catch up as we dont get together very often.

5. Realising that I am going to be able to stick to my grocery budget easily this month - and I have cut it down by almost 2/3!!

6. A friend phoning to invite me out to lunch as my birthday treat next week.

7. Having time today to come online and catch up on MSE!!

Goodnight all.

sparrer

Wednesday blessings...

1. Having to rethink DGD numbers, the 'new' one in my life is the oldest so poor DGD1 has been demoted to DGD2, and 2 becomes 3, etc etc..now even I'm confuzzled

2. I have to do some serious money making this year. I joined a cashback site (won't mention which in case a big bad board guide comes along and slaps my wrist ) affiliated to a newspaper opposite 'the moon'. It has a bingo site which gives £20 cashback for joining, I had to spend a small amount playing and I won £159...and to think I can't stand bingo! The money is banked and I've unsubscribed so no temptation to gamble more.

3. Newly numbered DGD3 is coming to stay this weekend while her parents go off to a dog show. A friend sent me a 50% off voucher for Pizza Hut, we need to make some bread (so she tells me), and we're visiting Henley on Sunday...that's us sorted for the weekend

4. Had a lovely chat with a friend in Yorks, she's off to visit her family in Oz on Saturday and we're meeting up at a convention in Blackpool in March...with all these hols/trips to pay for, I'll have to find some more bingo-type sites :rolleyes:

5. Spent a few minutes in the fresh air this pm, the snowdrops/crocuses/narcissi/daffs and garlic are coming on apace, the coxes espalier, Madame Lemoine lilac, and olive have masses of buds, even the eucalyptus, honeysuckle and gooseberry bushes have lots of new green leaves. Nature is a beautiful thing

shopndrop

I don't normally read this thread but have some spare time this morning to myself and have started to read it.

I just have to say what wonderful news for sparrer and also to jvs don't give up hope.

My cousin left home when she was 17 and went her own way. We heard through the grapevine that she had married and had children but none of the family ever saw her. She was very special to me as we grew up in a block of terraced houses with my nan & grandad living in the middle house and their daughters and families living either side, we were very close cousins. It broke my heart when she lost contact with the family but about 3 months ago, she contacted an aunt and asked if she thought her mum & dad would like to see her again.

I will just say "this was an understatement" and now all the family are slowly getting to know her again. She is now nearly 50 so had no contact for over 30 years but she has been made very welcome - so don't give up to those who may have lost contact with family.

My pleasures for yesterday were
1. Cooking some braising steak in my slow cooker and batching it up for the freezer.
2. Going for a long walk with DH.
3. DS ringing for a chat and spending half anhour talking to me about his week.
4. Making a batch of Twink's hobnobs and still having some left for today.

diamondgirl78

For yesterday:

1) Being in the middle of a 3-day holiday from work, and therefore saving petrol.
2) Realising I had the right ingredients to bake some goodies without having to buy anything (and using the Stanley cooker, which gets hot while the heating is on - so no extra costs for cooking it).
3) The look of pleasant surprise on my DH's face when I served up some Twink's hobnobs with his cuppa, and the same for my elderly mother-in-law.
4) Making Chilli con carne with 2 portions left over for the freezer (my first ever try at doing this, so hope it works!).
5) Myself and DH both reading books in the evening by energy-saving bulblight for 4 hours (!) instead of watching the telly. And what a nice change it made too.

x

floyd

Simple things are making me smile today;

1) Getting some Seville oranges to make my first ever real marmalade
2) Walking in the rain
3) Being asked to make dessert for someones dinner party because they liked the last one o much
4) Finding a huge tub of dried mealworms in Home and Bargain to keep my robins and doves happy
5) Getting a lovely letter from my sister with pics of her new baby

KarrieBee

hiya all, i've not posted for a couple of days again (!) so here's a random set of pleasures for the last few days
1. Getting some great books from the library including a knitting book that I am hoping will inspire me to great things!
2. A phone call from one of my best friends on the same day I sent her a postcard telling her how much i miss her - spooky synchronicity there
3. Going to my 2nd rehearsal at my new choir and feeling really welcome they are such a lovely bunch!
4. My first attempt at making my own puff pastry - even my mum was impressed and DH made me promise not to use the bought stuff anymore.
5. getting a wool and cashmere long coat from the local hospice shop for £5.95 - and the ladies in there saying how slim i was (yes it's a bit vacuous but I put on a lot of weight after my dad died and now i look and feel like 'me' again for the first time in a long time0

ooh one more - fnding that after i couldn;t but thai red curry pste for love or money that i had all the ingredients lurking in the fridge - we have some very random stuff in there but i was very grateful!

hope everyone is having a peaceful and blessed time - particularly those with new family members!

tudorfan22

Mine for today are

• Saw a fox in the garden area out of our office window so sat for ages watching him mooch about – probably will be the highlight of my day! he was so gorgeous!
• Colleague at work just asked ‘have you lost weight – I didn’t recognise you!’ so will feel floaty light all day!
• Do cross stitch tonight – it’s a present for my sister who is having her baby in 3 weeks – it’s a winnie the pooh sampler with baby’s name on it – when we know what baby’s name will be!
• My dads cats who got rehomed on Tuesday are doing fine in their new home, got a lovely email from new owners saying her kids adore the cats and the cats are content and purring – feel all warm inside now as I hated the idea of having to give them up but sounds like their new family really appreciates them!
• cuddled my little cat in bed this morning, she’s so well behaved, she sleeps by our feet all night until the alarm goes off then she come up the bed for cuddles from mum!
• watched the new movie seven pounds with will smith last night and blubbed my way through the whole film – so lovely and moving – and really makes you appreciate your life and your health and your loved ones

bluenose1

Glad your dads cats are rehoused safely Tudorfan22

My 5 pleasures (over 2 days)
1. Going to the Library, got a knitting book, a quilting book, a cake decorating book and a Nigella Lawson cookery book. No doubt I won’t do any but I like looking at the pictures and imagining what I could make.
2. A friend of ours is struggling financially and told me his house insurance quote with Direct Line was £548. I spent 10 minutes on confused.com and got him a quote with lower excesses etc for £178. He was thrilled, and I was glad I could help him a little. I am going to look at his gas and electricity next.
3. Getting loads of bargains for me and MIL in Boots 75% off sale. Have enough for all Birthdays and Christmas next year. Even bought my Christmas Crackers.
4. A leisurely read of my book
5. And this is not moneysaving in the slightest BUT I have just booked to take my MIL on the Orient Express from Liverpool to Alnwick castle in April for her 70th birthday. She has not been in good health for years yet really helps us out childminding while we work etc. I know sometimes she really struggles and she is delighted. Actually so am I, can’t wait to go. Actually it is a little bit moneysaving as it cost £570 booking through the Orient Express website; however I could book the same trip through Virgin Experience days for £495. (the benefits of Google shopping.)

Primrose

Mine today
1. Joining the 5000 people who have already signed up to become a 'beneficial owner' of the small plot of land which Greenpeace have bought slap bang in the middle of the proposed area for the third Healthrow runway to try and stop it being built. (https://www.greenpeace.org.uk). I hate the thought of two villages being flattened and so many people losing their homes and futures for such a ruinous environmental project.
2. HM lentil soup made from yesterday's cooked ham hock, and another serving left for tomorrow.
3. Finishing the jigsaw we bought for Christmas entertainment and taking it back to the charity shop again.
4. Watching a red kite swoop very low over our garden.
5. Making another large batch of yoghurt (mixing ordinary and Greek) & finding it works very well.